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Windows/Microsoft Update causes svchost.exe to run CPU at 99%

Question

And the update site just goes on forever. Used Mr, Fixit, did not fix update issue, and says missing or corrupt files on the history think. Update site says I never had updates. Real funny. I saved from mr fix it, but they are unreadable.

Have had this computer since it was new in 2003, never had this happen before.

Windows XP Home Edition SP3 Version 2002

Norton Virus & Firewall for 5 years

Gateway Computer

2 Gigs of ram

IE 8

Recently turned off auto update because it ran real long. So I set it to notify only. Did not stop the process. Tried CCleaner, have run it many years ago, downloded their new version cleaned files and reg, Computer sped up quite nicely. but was wondering
why in the past couple of weeks I had no notices of updates available. Tried manualy, then that is when it all started. Going to try the manual resetting from this page
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058 soon if no Solution is found. Less then a year on XP left, but got to give this one to my Grand Daughter for her school work,

Scroll down to Product/Cmponent
, look for Windows Internet Explorer
8, select date range from November 1st thru todays date. Click on
Search by Product or Component, Scroll down and Click on and Download 2888505 and install & reboot(unless already installed). Then go back and Click on and Download 2898785 and install & reboot. Now you should be able to click on Windows/Microsoft
Updates, and get all the remaining updates to download and install as usual.

NOTE: After your search, clicking on the download will take you to a new page where you will need to scroll down and find your Internet Explorer and operating system, then click on the highlighted numbered download link which will take you to
the download page for that update.

All replies

A few weeks ago, I have tested a fresh Windows XP installation and encountered the same issue with Windows Update. When I start the Windows Update, it took about 2 hours before it generates a list of available updates.

I will suggest that you start the Windows Update and let it run for, maybe, 2-3 hours.

Tried that already, went and watched a show, came back and finally updates were showing. But instanlty after clicking install, showed updates failed. Last time I had a simular problem was when some how my time on the computer was set days ahead of actual
time. But it is set correctly.

It also explained why none of the previous updates in history of updates were absent. Wierd! either XP`s update site has a bad hack in it, or somebody is sleeping on the job for the fix.

Had a nice scare, computer started to freeze then come back after killing the svchost process, Then unplugged it because it would not respond to shutting it down. Then all it did was restart to the window booting screen to choose start normally, are
safe mode but either choice it kept restarting after seeing the windows booting screen. Finally did a chkdsk from the OScd, and it restarted woh! thought I lost it all. But still have the smae problem when checking for updates. So I learned the hard way that
chkdsk will not solve the svchost update problem.

So killing the svchost is just stopping the updates. They are one in the same. And killing the process just makes IE 8 different like in safe mode almost.

Well it`s not a virus that causes it to run forever, downloaded Nov, 2013 Microsoft malicious software removal tool and did a Full System scan. Plus! Did a Full System Scan with Norton, which
was 5 hours of fun, not!

But nothing works that they suggest. Microsoft apparently thinks people are made of money and should go buy a new system and quit whining about XP. Well some of us including people fighting
for your freedom and Country can`t afford to fall prey to your lack of responsibility just because you think we should have upgraded already.

How about keeping your word to your customers about supporting your OS until April, 2014???

This update stops the svchost.exe from going crazy.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41074 After downloading& installing this update, I clicked on windows/microsoft update and it went pretty fast, but on clicking to install updates it again went straight to saying updates
failed. Now I will try to manually down load these updates showing failed.

After downloading and installing KB2888505, then checking Windows update to see what updates it`s failing to install, XP`s KB2862152, KB2868626, KB2876331, KB2900986 & Microsoft Office 2007 KB2760415 and Installing them manually. Rechecking Microsoft
update shows no more critical updates. And history still shows these as listed to install with no account for installs earlier than these. I`ll say it again, I hope their up coming fix fixes the history part of update too.

Well it`s not a virus that causes it to run forever, downloaded Nov, 2013 Microsoft malicious software removal tool and did a Full System scan. Plus! Did a Full System Scan with Norton, which
was 5 hours of fun, not!

But nothing works that they suggest. Microsoft apparently thinks people are made of money and should go buy a new system and quit whining about XP. Well some of us including people fighting
for your freedom and Country can`t afford to fall prey to your lack of responsibility just because you think we should have upgraded already.

How about keeping your word to your customers about supporting your OS until April, 2014???

For business, MS will support Windows XP beyond April 2014 with a pay support. Many business are taking that road right now.

Did you try to manual install the updates?

I appreciate your info on XP, But As I stated, I knew of the soon to be extinct Support for XP. As for paying for continued support, no thanks. I believe we paid enough when we bought it. As I said before, This will become my Grand Daughters PC for her home
work. And Me and my Wife will use the Laptop that has Vista on it. Probably will not buy another PC untill I see a major change/difference Microsoft`s OS`s. Because right now they are not that different. Except for processors, touch screens, and memory.

Scroll down to Product/Cmponent
, look for Windows Internet Explorer
8, select date range from November 1st thru todays date. Click on
Search by Product or Component, Scroll down and Click on and Download 2888505 and install & reboot(unless already installed). Then go back and Click on and Download 2898785 and install & reboot. Now you should be able to click on Windows/Microsoft
Updates, and get all the remaining updates to download and install as usual.

NOTE: After your search, clicking on the download will take you to a new page where you will need to scroll down and find your Internet Explorer and operating system, then click on the highlighted numbered download link which will take you to
the download page for that update.

Scroll down to Product/Cmponent
, look for Windows Internet Explorer
8, select date range from November 1st thru todays date. Click on
Search by Product or Component, Scroll down and Click on and Download 2888505 and install & reboot(unless already installed). Then go back and Click on and Download 2898785 and install & reboot. Now you should be able to click on Windows/Microsoft
Updates, and get all the remaining updates to download and install as usual.

"Scroll down and Click on and Download 2888505". I've followed the instrucitons above, but I've looked all over the place but can't figure out how I shall download the patch for XP????

Are you selecting the correct date range? needs to be from Nov 1st thru todays date. I did it and see it. And I did not write to simply "Scroll down and Click on and Download 2888505". you need to read the instructions again.

But if I go to "Security Update Deployment/Windows XP (all editions)/Security update file names" and then Google on the filename then I get to
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41074 where I can download the patch. But it was not obvious that this is the way to find out where to download the patch.

I too have been struggling with this issue for several days. I dowloaded and installed the two updates you listed and was pleased that the windows update site no longer got hung up by svchost .exe. In fact 11 critical updates wer found..
HOWEVER upon trying to install they all failed with error code 0x80246008! Do you have any more insight to this issue?

Got to same spot as you. Discovered BITS service was not running in services. Repaired mine by re-installing BITS. Make sure you test auto start to be sure BITS starts. I followed instructions found in this forum by searching first the error code and then
BITS missing in xp. Found in was not running in my services.

Turned auto update back on and downloaded and installed 11 critical updates. one other after a restart. Now all working good again. Fix it should have been able to tell me BITS was not installed. But it did not.

I have this same issue but I have checked my XP systems and they have both of these updates already installed. Unfortunately there has been no change. Anyone else have an answer or a work around that does not involve turning off Automatic Updates?
Any assistance would be appreciated.

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